GEMS Journey
Where We've Been and Where We're Going
In some ways, it feels like the last 18 months has gone by in flash, though when we take the time to reflect on all that has passed, as a business we recognise how fortunate we are to still be standing in an industry that has taken far too many hits to count.
A not so simple decision 18 months ago led us down a path we never expected to take, however, in every respect we have learnt, we have grown, we have become more resilient, we are better for it and we now have more to offer our clients than ever before.
The defining moment - when we made the risky decision to retain our staff full-time during the pandemic outbreak and re-focus our efforts on training and upskilling, rather than reducing hours and just getting by (which certainly would have been the seemingly smartest of the two roads at that time).
Once the decision was made, (for better or worse) the team had one goal - to dive head-first into the virtual event world and spend our days training in the OnAIR virtual event software, building virtual platform test events and working hard to make sense of it all.
We have had to tackle the blaringly obvious dilemmas of how to engage delegates in meaningful ways via a virtual platform and how to facilitate peer to peer collaboration, which is often the key driving force for change and innovation in any realm.
Through much trial and some error, working closely with our clients we identified some exciting new possibilities for engagement and connection. Ultimately, it’s about doing the best you can do with the situation you are in and what tools you have to work with.
'Since early 2020, we are proud to say that our team has now delivered over 60 virtual or hybrid events involving
over 500 speakers, reaching over 10,000 delegates in
more than 30 countries.'
In honesty, we could not have met this impressive milestone without the OnAIR development team at EventsAIR and a great many loyal clients that put their trust in us to deliver their events in new and innovative ways, and through unchartered waters.
Moving forward, our sincere hope is that we can get back to delivering face to face events, where all our Australian event industry colleagues can re-launch and prosper and our event attendees can experience the unmatched benefits of meeting in the same room.
However, with virtual event technology opening so many new avenues of opportunity, I imagine we will be moving toward many conferences being delivered in a hybrid (in-person and virtual) format, giving our clients and attendees the gift of greater choice and flexibility about how they wish to attend.
…and don’t think 100% virtual events will be a thing of the past - For many of our international events where the attendee base spans the globe, we believe 100% virtual conferences will remain the most likely choice, offering an affordable and viable option for those who do not have the time or financial means to travel abroad.
The great news is, no matter how you wish to deliver your next event, our team has the means and experience to deliver in-person, 100% virtual or hybrid events. The choice is yours!
